Plan of a Federal Constitution for Mexico by Stephen F. Austin, made about June 10, 1823, in Monterrey, Mexico, with notes in the margin by Miguel Ramos Arizpe.
Dublin Core
Title
Plan of a Federal Constitution for Mexico by Stephen F. Austin, made about June 10, 1823, in Monterrey, Mexico, with notes in the margin by Miguel Ramos Arizpe.
Subject
Ramos Arizpe, Miguel, 1775-1843.
Mexico -- Politics and government -- 1810-1821.
Constitutional history -- Mexico.
Austin, Stephen F. (Stephen Fuller), 1793-1836.
Texas -- History -- To 1846.
Mexico -- Politics and government -- 1810-1821.
Constitutional history -- Mexico.
Austin, Stephen F. (Stephen Fuller), 1793-1836.
Texas -- History -- To 1846.
Description
In 1823, the Republic of Mexico was just being created. Agustin Iturbide, emperor of the first Mexican Empire was dethroned and a provisional government was in process of forming a Federal Republic. Stephen F. Austin drafted a plan for a Federal Constitution for Mexico in Monterrey; he sent it to Miguel Ramos Arizpe for advice. This draft influenced Miguel Ramos Arizpe’s drafting of the Mexican Constitution of 1824.
Stephen F. Austin wrote an introduction, in spanish, of the constitutive act, in which he praised the benefits of the Federal government system that operated in his native country, the United States of America. The civic liberties it offered, boasted the arts, science, and happiness in the U.S. The system should offer the same benefits to the Mexican Republic. The citizens of Mexico fought a heroic and glorious ten year fight for independence, which culminated in a Mexican Empire with Agustin Iturbide as monarch. The citizenship was wise to dethrone the usurper, and reclaim its most sacred and imprescindible rights.
Monarchy is an absolute and abominable form despotism, where the power is concentrated in a small aristocratic class, who is interested in preserving and fomenting ignorance among the masses. The Federalist system governs for the happiness of the people and on the rule of Law. It is a government founded on the general consensus of the people, directed by justice, common good, in which the responsibility of public agents is effective & absolute; & the resources to repair abuses and aggravations is direct and prompt, without the bureaucratic entanglements of the State. As in monarchical governments, the power decisions are ineffective as they are based or influenced by clientelistic interests.
The Republican opposition of the Federal plan desire a Centralized system, ruled by an aristocracy composed by capitalists, the clergy and the ruling party [Iturbidistas]. The de facto capital would be Mexico City, and with all the power concentrated in one place it would be the “absolute mother of all the provinces and of all the nation.” The ruling aristocratic elite, would be supported by all the governors, public office employees, and of course, the army; with such a legion the elite would be unstoppable. The congress should be able to put the Supreme Executive on check, but it is currently incapable. The voice of the public opinion is corrupted and divided, they admire the aristocratic wit. The Provinces, with their power absorbed, become victims of despotic aristocracy; to a such degree that it sows the seeds for division & civil war; as it happened in the Roman First Triumvirate of Crasseus, Cesar & Pompey. Austin referred to the the Triumvirate, because in 1823, after the fall of the Mexican Constitutional Empire, Nicolas Bravo, Guadalupe Victoria and Pedro Negrete held a constitutional government. In a centralized govt. Mexico City would flourish, as the center of power and wealth, but the extenuated & languish Provinces would suffer a lamentable state of dependance.
In the Federal System each province is its own source of wealth and happiness. National liberty, like individuals would have a custody angel in the legislative bodies of each province. Always vigilant to the interests of the people. During the Triumvirate, the Provinces were still ruled by the Spanish constitution of Cadiz [which was never properly implemented]. Austin urged the congress to declare a government system, as if it was not done so promptly, the nation could fall into a state of anarchy or befall to the abuses of aristocratic, or individual despotism. If the congress is not held accountable for the instructions given by their constituents-- the establishment becomes aristocratic despotism.
The constitution proposed by Austin influenced Miguel Ramos Arizpe’s drafting of the Constitutive Act of the 2nd of November of 1823 as President of the Constitution Commission . This act, was a consequence of a sovereignty referendum in which all the states were declared independent republics and voted to remain as Federal Republic. As an aftermath of the poll, the United Provinces of Central America, separated from Mexico; these territories are now known as Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. The constitutive acts of Ramos Arizpe and Austin share many similarities, one of the sharpest differences is in the tone taken when defining state-church relations. In a couple of articles of Austin’s act, it states that the government shall correct and reform the abuses of the church; it shall also appropriate real estate and other property if needed. Ramos Arizpe, as a priest, did not approve such measures. The article 25 of Austin’s act is quite relevant as it gives us a clearer insight of his political ideologies and inspiration;
“The objective of this plan is to establish a Federated Republic established over the solid bases of Justice and natural Law; and to unite the people of America towyn the sacred bonds of fraternity and mutual protection, mutual interests, common good & individual as well as national prosperity; & the restoration of the vast and desolate prairie of Anahuac which’s peace & happiness were banished 10 years ago in a fierce and bloody war which turned despotism against the rights of men; to sustain this, no other arms but those of persuasion and the forces of reason and justice. Too much American blood has already been spilled by their own hands. Oh strange & terrible delirium of human passions! To spill the blood of a brother. It is not independence, liberty, peace, union, happiness and prosperity what we search! Shall we find such virtue in our ruin and desolation in an intestinal war? No: The one who pretends to uniform opinion or to establish a government by the force of arms, in its heart is an enemy of the nation. Thus no Province that adopts this plan shall have the need to recruit troops or to prepare hostile preparatives for those who don't adopt the plan; unless the attempts have been futile and without effect, including all peaceful and re-conciliatory measures; in which case it will be just and very necessary to defend accordingly to the principles of natural law.”
Stephen F. Austin wrote an introduction, in spanish, of the constitutive act, in which he praised the benefits of the Federal government system that operated in his native country, the United States of America. The civic liberties it offered, boasted the arts, science, and happiness in the U.S. The system should offer the same benefits to the Mexican Republic. The citizens of Mexico fought a heroic and glorious ten year fight for independence, which culminated in a Mexican Empire with Agustin Iturbide as monarch. The citizenship was wise to dethrone the usurper, and reclaim its most sacred and imprescindible rights.
Monarchy is an absolute and abominable form despotism, where the power is concentrated in a small aristocratic class, who is interested in preserving and fomenting ignorance among the masses. The Federalist system governs for the happiness of the people and on the rule of Law. It is a government founded on the general consensus of the people, directed by justice, common good, in which the responsibility of public agents is effective & absolute; & the resources to repair abuses and aggravations is direct and prompt, without the bureaucratic entanglements of the State. As in monarchical governments, the power decisions are ineffective as they are based or influenced by clientelistic interests.
The Republican opposition of the Federal plan desire a Centralized system, ruled by an aristocracy composed by capitalists, the clergy and the ruling party [Iturbidistas]. The de facto capital would be Mexico City, and with all the power concentrated in one place it would be the “absolute mother of all the provinces and of all the nation.” The ruling aristocratic elite, would be supported by all the governors, public office employees, and of course, the army; with such a legion the elite would be unstoppable. The congress should be able to put the Supreme Executive on check, but it is currently incapable. The voice of the public opinion is corrupted and divided, they admire the aristocratic wit. The Provinces, with their power absorbed, become victims of despotic aristocracy; to a such degree that it sows the seeds for division & civil war; as it happened in the Roman First Triumvirate of Crasseus, Cesar & Pompey. Austin referred to the the Triumvirate, because in 1823, after the fall of the Mexican Constitutional Empire, Nicolas Bravo, Guadalupe Victoria and Pedro Negrete held a constitutional government. In a centralized govt. Mexico City would flourish, as the center of power and wealth, but the extenuated & languish Provinces would suffer a lamentable state of dependance.
In the Federal System each province is its own source of wealth and happiness. National liberty, like individuals would have a custody angel in the legislative bodies of each province. Always vigilant to the interests of the people. During the Triumvirate, the Provinces were still ruled by the Spanish constitution of Cadiz [which was never properly implemented]. Austin urged the congress to declare a government system, as if it was not done so promptly, the nation could fall into a state of anarchy or befall to the abuses of aristocratic, or individual despotism. If the congress is not held accountable for the instructions given by their constituents-- the establishment becomes aristocratic despotism.
The constitution proposed by Austin influenced Miguel Ramos Arizpe’s drafting of the Constitutive Act of the 2nd of November of 1823 as President of the Constitution Commission . This act, was a consequence of a sovereignty referendum in which all the states were declared independent republics and voted to remain as Federal Republic. As an aftermath of the poll, the United Provinces of Central America, separated from Mexico; these territories are now known as Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. The constitutive acts of Ramos Arizpe and Austin share many similarities, one of the sharpest differences is in the tone taken when defining state-church relations. In a couple of articles of Austin’s act, it states that the government shall correct and reform the abuses of the church; it shall also appropriate real estate and other property if needed. Ramos Arizpe, as a priest, did not approve such measures. The article 25 of Austin’s act is quite relevant as it gives us a clearer insight of his political ideologies and inspiration;
“The objective of this plan is to establish a Federated Republic established over the solid bases of Justice and natural Law; and to unite the people of America towyn the sacred bonds of fraternity and mutual protection, mutual interests, common good & individual as well as national prosperity; & the restoration of the vast and desolate prairie of Anahuac which’s peace & happiness were banished 10 years ago in a fierce and bloody war which turned despotism against the rights of men; to sustain this, no other arms but those of persuasion and the forces of reason and justice. Too much American blood has already been spilled by their own hands. Oh strange & terrible delirium of human passions! To spill the blood of a brother. It is not independence, liberty, peace, union, happiness and prosperity what we search! Shall we find such virtue in our ruin and desolation in an intestinal war? No: The one who pretends to uniform opinion or to establish a government by the force of arms, in its heart is an enemy of the nation. Thus no Province that adopts this plan shall have the need to recruit troops or to prepare hostile preparatives for those who don't adopt the plan; unless the attempts have been futile and without effect, including all peaceful and re-conciliatory measures; in which case it will be just and very necessary to defend accordingly to the principles of natural law.”
Creator
Ramos Arizpe, Miguel, 1775-1843
Austin, Stephen Fuller, 1793-1836.
Source
[no text]
Publisher
The University of Texas at Austin
Date
1823
Contributor
Ramos Arizpe, Miguel, 1775-1843
Rights
This electronic resource is made available by the University of Texas Libraries solely for the purposes of research, teaching and private study.
This material is made available for education and research purposes only. The creator of this exhibit does not own the rights for these items; it cannot grant or deny permission to use this material. Copyright law protects unpublished as well as published materials. It is your responsibility to determine the rights status and secure whatever permission may be needed for the use of any item. Due to the nature of archival collections, rights information may be incomplete or out of date. We welcome updates or corrections. Upon request, we'll remove material from public view while we address a rights issue
This material is made available for education and research purposes only. The creator of this exhibit does not own the rights for these items; it cannot grant or deny permission to use this material. Copyright law protects unpublished as well as published materials. It is your responsibility to determine the rights status and secure whatever permission may be needed for the use of any item. Due to the nature of archival collections, rights information may be incomplete or out of date. We welcome updates or corrections. Upon request, we'll remove material from public view while we address a rights issue
Relation
[no text]
Format
[no text]
Language
Spanish
Type
[no text]
Identifier
[no text]
Coverage
Coahuila, Texas, Austin, Mexico, United States of America, Bexar, Monclova, Saltillo, Monterrey,
Files
Collection
Citation
Ramos Arizpe, Miguel, 1775-1843
and Austin, Stephen Fuller, 1793-1836., “Plan of a Federal Constitution for Mexico by Stephen F. Austin, made about June 10, 1823, in Monterrey, Mexico, with notes in the margin by Miguel Ramos Arizpe.,” Await Another Voice: Uncovering Collections at The University of Texas at Austin, accessed April 18, 2024, https://socialjusticeutaustin.omeka.net/items/show/151.